Published: Thursday, August 15, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at 5:21 p.m.

For Susan Gabriel, the fast-moving waters of the Davidson River are inspiration. Weaving its way through Pisgah National Forest, the river's banks are used as a popular walking trail.

The portions of the river and trail that run through Brevard have helped reinvigorate the 56-year-old's health over the last year. For each of the last 365 days, Gabriel has spent time hiking on the trail.

Every day, she took more and more steps, coming closer to being the healthy person she could only remember.

“I decided if I made it about this river,” she said, “I might have a chance.”

Gabriel, who lives in Brevard just 10 minutes from the trail, often visits Pisgah just to enjoy the scenery. While sitting in a fold-out chair last year, the thought of walking the trail every day for a year came to her.

“I had what I call a moment of certainty,” she said. If she didn't get up and get active, her aches, pains and “couch potato” lifestyle would overwhelm her and eventually hurt her health.

Initially, Gabriel set the lofty goal of walking 365 days, but in the back of her mind she thought that if she could do it 50 consecutive days, her mission would be a success.

Those first 50 days weren't easy. Gabriel has dealt with chronic back pain for more than a decade and that pain reared its ugly head as she began her healthy trek. At times the pain, she said, reached a “seven” out of 10.

Her initial treks into the woods began in 20-minute increments. It was all she could handle to start out with as she battled the pain. When she reached the 50-day mark, her motivation grew. Then something interesting happened when she reached the 100-day mark: The pain went away.

“It ended up being this accidental pilgrimage,” she said.

Gabriel journeyed deeper down the trail, developing relationships with the river and the people who come to the area regularly. The river, she said, is the “Main Street of nature in a way.” She treasured those experiences.

The journey wasn't easy. She stepped entirely out of her comfort zone, but discovered parts of her that had been hidden in the past.

“It took courage for me to do that,” Gabriel said. “It was a pilgrimage back to myself.”

On Aug. 11, she hit her goal of walking on the trail every day for a year. She kept journals to chronicle her journey. Gabriel, an author, may turn those into a book one day.

She took Monday off and was back on the trail on Tuesday. She's walked in rain. She's walked the morning before an ice storm. No matter what the conditions, Gabriel pushed herself out the door.

And she was pleased with the outcome.

“I managed to surprise myself,” Gabriel said. “I never thought I could pull this off. Sometimes you just have to do things to shake up your life. I was ready to do something out of the ordinary.”

<p>For Susan Gabriel, the fast-moving waters of the Davidson River are inspiration. Weaving its way through Pisgah National Forest, the river's banks are used as a popular walking trail. </p><p>The portions of the river and trail that run through Brevard have helped reinvigorate the 56-year-old's health over the last year. For each of the last 365 days, Gabriel has spent time hiking on the trail.</p><p>Every day, she took more and more steps, coming closer to being the healthy person she could only remember. </p><p>“I decided if I made it about this river,” she said, “I might have a chance.”</p><p>Gabriel, who lives in Brevard just 10 minutes from the trail, often visits Pisgah just to enjoy the scenery. While sitting in a fold-out chair last year, the thought of walking the trail every day for a year came to her.</p><p>“I had what I call a moment of certainty,” she said. If she didn't get up and get active, her aches, pains and “couch potato” lifestyle would overwhelm her and eventually hurt her health. </p><p>Initially, Gabriel set the lofty goal of walking 365 days, but in the back of her mind she thought that if she could do it 50 consecutive days, her mission would be a success. </p><p>Those first 50 days weren't easy. Gabriel has dealt with chronic back pain for more than a decade and that pain reared its ugly head as she began her healthy trek. At times the pain, she said, reached a “seven” out of 10.</p><p>Her initial treks into the woods began in 20-minute increments. It was all she could handle to start out with as she battled the pain. When she reached the 50-day mark, her motivation grew. Then something interesting happened when she reached the 100-day mark: The pain went away. </p><p>“It ended up being this accidental pilgrimage,” she said. </p><p>Gabriel journeyed deeper down the trail, developing relationships with the river and the people who come to the area regularly. The river, she said, is the “Main Street of nature in a way.” She treasured those experiences. </p><p>The journey wasn't easy. She stepped entirely out of her comfort zone, but discovered parts of her that had been hidden in the past.</p><p>“It took courage for me to do that,” Gabriel said. “It was a pilgrimage back to myself.”</p><p>On Aug. 11, she hit her goal of walking on the trail every day for a year. She kept journals to chronicle her journey. Gabriel, an author, may turn those into a book one day. </p><p>She took Monday off and was back on the trail on Tuesday. She's walked in rain. She's walked the morning before an ice storm. No matter what the conditions, Gabriel pushed herself out the door. </p><p>And she was pleased with the outcome. </p><p>“I managed to surprise myself,” Gabriel said. “I never thought I could pull this off. Sometimes you just have to do things to shake up your life. I was ready to do something out of the ordinary.” </p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or at joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>